6th Annual Lake Memphremagog ICE OUT ContestIt's a question as old as the lake herself. Whether you're on the shore of Newport or across the border in Canada, every spring lakeside visitors muse over the age-old question, "when do you think the ice will go out?" Lake Memphremagog is deep, with ice as thick as 30 inches some winters, but Vermonters never tire watching for any indicative sign of the changing season.
To celebrate this time honored tradition, and to make things a little more interesting while we wait, Newport Parks & Recreation runs an annual "ICE OUT" contest. Each year a weighted Ice Out "mascot" is placed in the bay at Gardner Memorial Park attached to a time clock. The facade can be seen from the Causeway bridge and stands steadfast through snowstorms, wind and rain until the ice beneath finally gives way to the early warmth of spring. When the mascot drops, the Ice Out clock stops recording the official moment that "the ice is out in Newport". While ice fisherman despair, the news is always welcome to one lucky contestant who entered the closest prediction in the annual Ice Out contest. The nearest prediction (without going past) to the actual Ice Out date and time wins 50% of the contest pool, totaling around $2,000-$3,000 (depending on ticket sales). The other half of Ice Out proceeds benefit the Gardner Memorial Park Playground & Splashpad Project. |
2019 ICE OUT mascot, "Vanilla Ice"
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MAKE YOUR PREDICTION
Deadline to submit Ice Out predictions is April 1 or when the ice goes out (whichever comes first). No tickets/guesses will be accepted after the ice is out. If two or more contestants guess the winning date/time, the cash prize will be split equally among them. PRO-TIP! When choosing an ice-out TIME, stay away from round numbers like 1:00PM or 3:30PM because a lot of people guess those times. If you choose times that are unique like 1:23PM or 10:26AM, you're less likely to end up splitting the cash prize with someone that submitted the same exact guess! |
ICE OUT RECORD
April 15th 2014, 1:06AM - Winner John Colby (April 14, 5:30PM) April 15th 2015, 5:33PM - Winner Arlan Barber (April 15, 5:07PM) March 18th 2016, 3:13AM - Winner Edward Smith (March 18, 2:30AM) April 10th 2017, 11:38AM - Winner John Colby (April 9, 5:45PM) (2018 - No Contest Held) April 13th 2019, 11:07AM - Winner Steve Lawson (April 13, 10:05AM) |
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PRICING
$3 for 1 ticket $5 for 2 tickets $10 for 5 tickets They make great gifts! |
FEBRUARY 1 - APRIL 1
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT: Pick & Shovel - 54 Coventry Street Azur's Liquor Store - 33 Railroad Square Gardner Park Skate Shack - 155 Gardner Park Road Hoagies Pizza & Pasta - 58 Waterfront Plaza Jimmy Kwik Store - 153 Coventry Street West Side Market & Deli - 498 Highland Avenue Newport Parks & Recreation Office - 222 Main Street Newport Recreation Committee Members |